Stock distributor assembly



Nov. 3, 1959 E. D. BEACHLER s'rocx DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 27,1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ea ward D. Beach/e1".

Nov. 3, 1959 E. D. BEACHLER 2,911,041

STOCK DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FJ7.Z

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Eda/am D. Beach/e1" Nov. 3, 1959 E. D. BEACHLER STOCK DISTRIBUTORASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 27, 1956 175 w Edward D. Beach/erUnited States Patent f STOCK DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY Edward D. lieachler,Beloit, Wis., assignor to Beloit Iron Works, Beloit, Wis., a corporationof Wisconsin Application December 27, 1956, Serial No. 630,898

I Claims. (Cl. 162-336) The present invention relates to a stockdistributor for use with paper making machines, and more particularly,to a stock distributor for converting relatively high speed flow ofstock in a conduit of small cross section into a uniform relativelyslower flow of stock in the inlet box for insuring an even depositionof' paper stock across the entire forming surface of the machine.

In the art of paper making, the even distribution of stock fibers acrossthe entire width of the forming surface of a paper making machine haslong presented a problem. Also, there is constantly a desire to flowstock more rapidly onto the forming Surface, and by the use of a minimumamount of uncomplicated stock distribution structure. Relativelycomplicated countercurrent flow devices have been used; but the instantinvention relates to a greatly simplified flow distributor whichconverts a fast flowing stock stream 'of relatively small cross-sectionto a slower flowing stock stream of large cross-section andsubstantially the width of the inlet box wherein the stock flow isuniform by virtue of the stock having been forced through right angleturns and/or a restricted passageway, both of which serve to direct thestock laterally so that the flow will be uniform by the time it entersthe inlet box.

It is, therefore, an important object of the instant invention toprovide an improved stock distributor and/ or method of stockdistribution.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an improvedstock distributor wherein stock is taken from a conduit of smallcross-section into a distributor of substantially the width of the inletbox and is then forced through a stock flow path through a right angleturn and through a reduced cross-sectional area and then into the inletbox.

Other and further objects or advantages of the instant invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddisclosure thereof and the drawings attached hereto and made a parthereof.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional elevational view of a stock distributor andinlet box embodying the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken substantially alongthe line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view of thestock distributor shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view comparable to Figure 3 showing a differentembodiment; and

Figure 5 is taken along the line V-V of Figure 4.

As shown on the drawings:

A stock distribution system embodying the instant invention, hereindesignated generally by the reference numeral comprises a first conduit11 of small cross-sectional area and width directing a high velocitystream of stock, a stock inlet box 20 of relatively largercrosssectional area and width accommodating a relatively slower flow ofstock, a second conduit 30 flowing stock into the inlet box 20, saidsecond conduit 30 extending Patented Nov. 3, 1959 2 the width of theinlet box 20 and .defining a stock flow path through a first right angleturn T-1,:a reduced cross-sectional area A and then through a secondright angle turn T-Z, and a distribution header 40 extending the fullwidth of the stock inlet 20 receiving stock from the first conduit 11and feeding into the second conduit 30 through a plurality of laterallyspaced openings or pipes 41a, 4111, etc.

Referringfirst to ,:the general structure of the inlet 0 box 20, as bestshown in Figure 1, it will be seen that alignment so as to provide guidemeans for guiding the the inlet box 20 is defined by a generallyhorizontal floor 21 suitably mounted on a rear supporting frame 22a anda front supporting frame 22b, both of which are supported by theoperating floor G in the usual manner. The inlet box 20 is furtherdefined by an upright rear wall 23a, side walls 23b on the backside anda front side wall (not shown), and a forward wall structure 230 carryinga slice-defining element 23d cooperating with an apron 21a carried bythe floor 21 to define the outlet slice gates, from which stock flowsonto a travelling forming wire W turning over a breast roll B in the arepositioned in close running relationship with the floor 21 andtheforward upright wall 230 and with each other so as--to bridge thestock flow passing into the slice S. The rectifier rolls 24c and 24d., are stacked in the middle, of the inlet box 20 to approximately the levelL at which the stock will flow in the inlet box 20 so that all of thestock flowing therethrough will pass through the rectifier rolls 24c and24d. I The inlet box 20 is also provided with a bottom opening 25extending the full width of the inlet box 20 and opening downwardlytherefrom along the rear wall 23a. A rectifier roll 24c is mounted inclose running relation to the Wall portions defining the bottom opening25.

In the operation of the instant device 10, stock is forcedfrom a fanpump or other suitable pumping device (not shown) into the first conduit11 which has a relatively smallcross-sectional area and width. As hereshown the first conduit '11 has a width w of approximately one foot withstock flowing therein at rates of 12 to 15 feet per second. The inletbox 20, by contrast, has a lateral dimension 1 of about 14; but asindicated in Figure 2, the conduit 11 feeds approximately one-half ofthe width or lateral dimension of the inlet box 20 and the opposite side(not shown) of the device 10 in Figure 2 is equipped with anotherconduit comparable to the conduit 11 and an extension of the header .40with another five pipes 41 through 41 (not shown). To complete thepicture with respect to the differences in crosssection between theinlet box 20 and the first conduit 11, the stock level L ranges fromabout 2 to 3 feet. It will thus be seen that the stock flows much moreslowly in the inlet box and that a stock'flow rate. that is relativelyhigh and relatively diificult to handle is required in the first conduit11.

of the inlet box 20 receiving stock from the first conduit' 11. Thestock flows from the first conduit 11 into the header 44)Whereat it isabruptly turned through a angle. against the front side 40a of'theheader 40 so that the stock will be forced laterally as it enters theheader 40. Next the stock is forced into a pattern of generally paral-'lel streams flowing through the laterally spaced outlet pipes 41a, 41b,etc. from the header 40. The outlet pipes 41a, 41b, are closely spacedand in generally parallel The effect of this is to impinge the stockstream.

stock flow perpendicular to the header 40 and to generally reduceexcessive lateral flow of the stock. Generally perpendicularly alignedbaffles in laterally spaced relationship could be mounted in a conduitreplacing the pipes 41a, 41 b, but the pipes 41a, 41b afford a preferredarrangement. Although va flange connection 42a is here shown so as to.separate the .pipe 41a into upper and lower sections, it will beappreciated that the two :sections (in the case of each of such .pipes)carry out the function of a single pipe. The stock thus flows from thepipes 41a upwardly and is then impinged against a bafiie 31 above andgenerally normal to the pipes 41a, 411), etc. for turning the stockflowing from the pipes through a right angle turn T-l. It will be notedthat the indie 31 slants upwardly slightly in the direction of stocktravel (as indicated by the arrows), and the baflie 31 extends the fullwidth'of the inlet box so as to provide a chamber in the region of theright angle turn T- 1 that is-op'ened the full width of the inlet box 20to receive all of the stock flow from the pipes 41a, 41b, etc. Thebaffle 31 defines the roof of the chamber. The second conduit 30 is alsodefined in part by a floor portion 32 which cooperates with the baflieportion 31 to define a conduit portion having an increasingly restrictedmouth the "full width of the inlet box 20 receiving stock turned by thebaffle 31. At the point of maximum restriction A' in the'conduit 30, theheight of theconduit is approximately one-half the height of the conduitin the region of the first turn T-1 where the stock is first received bythe baffle 31. The stock flows in the upwardly extending pipes 41a, 41b;etc. at a rate of about 6-8 feet per second and this flow rate isreduced to approximately one-half that figure in-the region of the firstturn T-l and is again increased to 6 to 8 feet per second at the pointof maximum restriction, at A in the conduit '30. As will be appreciated,impinging stock against the bafile 31"imparts a lateral component to thestock flow'so as to further distribute the stock at the point of'theturn T-1. In addition, it will be appreciated that restricting the stockflowarea at A serves to unify the flow throughout the width of the inletbox 20 in this region A. It will thus be appreciated that the restrictedportion A serves to compensate for inequalities in stock flow throughoutthe entire width of this restricted'portion A. Next, the stock flowsalong the conduit floor 32 and against a second baffle '33 generallynormal to the stock flow from the restricted area A so as to turn thestockagain at a right angle 'in the stock flow path at'the turn T-2.

"The'second baffle 33 cooperates with an upwardly extending'conduitportion 34, spaced a substantial distance therefrom to define anupwardly directed portion of the conduit 30 wherein the cross-sectionalarea is sufliciently great'to obtain a relatively slow stock flow rateof 1 to2 feet per'second. This is just a little more than twice the flowrate that is ordinarily employed in the inlet box '20 and'theunifonnityof stock flow is further accomplished by flowing the stock at thisrelatively slow rate through the rectifier roll 24e mounted in closerunning relationto the walls in the bottom inlet 25 for the box '20. The

conduit'portions 33 and 34 are spaced apart approximately the samedistance as the width w for the first conduit 11.

'The conduit portions 32, 33 define in cross-sectional elevation an L;and the conduit portions 31, 34 also define in cross section an L. Thecross-section of the conduit is that of nested Us It will further benoted that all of the horizontal reaches of the instant stock flowdevice 10 have roof portions inclined upwardly along the direction ofstock flow therethrough for preventing the lumping of stockflowingthrough such passages and into the inlet box 20. In other words,the conduit 11 has its roof portion inclined'upwardly along thedirection of stock flow into the header 40. Also, the baffie portion 31is inclined upwardly along the direction of stock flow. Actually, it isimportant to have theupwardly inclined roof portions in such passagewaysupwardly inclined if the stock flowing therein is not flowingat at least9 feet per second. For this reason, the relatively short roof spaces inthe header 40 between the pipes 41a and 41b, for example, need not beupwardly inclined. The stock flowing in the header 40 is flowing at onlyslightly less than the flow rate in the main conduit 11. Any roofportion of a passageway wherein the stock is not flowing at at least 9feet per second should be upwardly inclined at a rate of at least 1 inchper foot in the direction of flow, and preferably 1%. inches per foot inthe direction of flow (in the manner in which the baffle portion 31 isupwardly inclined). The rectifier roll 242, which is a rotary perforateshell or sleeve, does not function as a roof portion and the stock flowsfreely therethrough, so that there can be no accumulation of air in thisregion. With respect to the baffle 31 the stock flow expressed inprocess terms involves impinging the stock against a baflle portionfollowing which the stock stream flowing laterally (toward A) is beingraised at its top at a rate-of at least 1 inch (and preferably 1%inches) per foot of travel above the horizontal in the direction oftravel.

It will further be noted that a frame element F carrying the baffleportion 31 and the upwardly extending conduit portion 34 as an integralpart thereof is spaced from the inlet box rear wall '23:: by a shim orspacer 50 and is spaced from a bottom framework-51 carrying the upwardextremity of the pipes 41 by a shim or spacer '52.

As will be appreciated, the frame F is secured by bolts or similarremovable securing elements (not shown) to the rear wall 23a and thebottom frame 51. The shims or spacers 50 and 52 ar however, employed forthe purpose of permitting limited adjustment of the position of theframe F. Thus, if it is desired to lower the frame F the shim '52 can bewithdrawn and mounted with the shim 56 to increase the spacing from therear wall 23a and thus lower the baffle portion 31 and further restrictthe mouth or minimum restriction A. In this way control of stock flow,or the rate of stock fiow, into the inlet box =10 is eflected.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, it will be seen that a somewhatdifferent structure for an inlet indicated generallyby the referencenumeral is shown. Cornparable elements in these views are indicated byreference numerals corresponding to those shown in Figures 1 through 3in-the 100 series. The top portion'of the inlet box 100' is omitted fromthis view, but it will be noted thatthe box 1% is provided with agenerally horizontal floor 121 wherein there is provided a bottomopening 1 25 extending the full width of the box 100 and open ingdownwardly therefrom along the rear wall 123a of the box 100. Arectifier roll 124a is mounted in close running relation to the wallportions defining the bottom opening 125. As will be seen the floor orbottom wall 121 is suitably mounted on a framework 160 supported lg apedestal 161 mounted on the floor or ground level In the operation ofthe device 100, stock is forced from a fan pump or other .suitablepumping device (not shown) into a first conduit 111 which hassubstantially the shape of the conduit 11 hereinbefore described. Thestock flows from th'e'first conduit 111 into a laterally extendingheader wherein the stock is impinged against a back wall 140a and forcedthrough a right angle turn T3 and also forced laterally. The stock flowsupwardly from the conduit 140 through a plurality of verticallyextending pipes 141a, 141b, 141e, etc. The stock-is thus forced into apattern of generally parallel streams flowing upwardly through the pipes141 from the header 140. As shown in Figure 5, the pipes 141are-relatively closely spaced and these pipes are formed by'the use ofonly two separate sheets of metal bolted together, as by the bolts 142,142. One of such sheets is'the conduit back wall 146a which extendsupwardly a substantial distance as shown in Figure 4. The other of thesheets, indicated generally by the reference numeral 143 in Figure isformed by bending the same so that it will provide in conjunction withthe back wall 140a the plurality of pipes or conduits 141 hereinbeforedescribed. It will be noted that this structure simplifies the assemblyand disassembly of the device 100. The sheet 143 has a bottom skirtportion 143a (Figure 4) which is actually a separate sheet welded to thepipe defining upper portion of the sheet 143, which defines the frontwall of the header 140. Also, the sheet member 143 has a top frameportion 143]) which defines a vertical wall above the pipe elements 141at 1430. It will thus be seen that the metal sheet element 143 isactually integrated with a bottom skirt portion 143a and a top portion143b so as to provide a single element that can be removed as one pieceor put in position as one piece during disassembly or assembly of thedevice 100.

The stock flows upwardly through the pipes 141 and is then impingedagainst a baflle element 131 above and generally normal to the pipes 141for turning the stock flowing from the pipes 141 through a right angleturn T-4. The battle 131, of course, slants upwardly in the direction ofstock travel and converges with a floor portion 132 which is actually acontinuation of the lower rear wall 140a. The walls 131 and 132 convergeto a point of maximum restriction at A-l in the manner hereinbeforedescribed and the stock flows therethrough and impinges against a secondbaflle 133 which is mounted generally normal to the stock flow from therestricted area A-1 so as to turn the stock again at a right angle at aturn T-S, from which the stock flows directly through the rectifier roll124a. The bafie element 131 is integral with an upwardly extendingconduit portion 134, both of which are mounted on a frame element F-2which also mounts the back wall 123a of the inlet box 100. The frameelement F-2 is mounted for limited vertical adjustment so as to controlthe size of the mini-' A key to the invention resides in forcing theenter ing stock to impinge upon a conduit surface, which include abaffle in the conduit. The essential idea is to convert the longitudinalvelocity energy to obtain transverse mixing velocity. This can beaccomplished with a baflie, a 90 turn or even a 180 turn. In any event,the turn is at least about 90.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be eflectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of thepresent invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a paper machine, a first conduit of small crosssectional area andwidth directing a high velocity stream of stock, a stock inlet box ofrelatively larger cross-sectional area and Width accommodating arelatively slower flow of stock, a header below the box and extendingthe full width thereof receiving stock from the first conduit,

I a plurality of laterally spaced ducts extending generally verticallyfrom said header to flow stock therefrom, and a flow distributingconduit having a generally flat, generally horizontal baflie beyond andgenerally normal to said ducts turning stock flowing from the ducts at aright angle, means defining an increasingly restricted mouth the fullwidth of the inlet box receiving stock turned by the horizontal baflle,and a generally flat generally vertical baflle generally normal to stockflowing from said means turning stock again at a right angle and intothe bottom of said inlet box.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said generally horizontalbaflle is upwardly inclined in the direction of stock flow.

3. In a paper machine, a first conduit of small crosssectional area andwidth directing a high velocity stream of stock, a stock inlet box ofrelatively larger cross-sectional area and width accommodating arelatively slower flow of stock, a header below the box and extendingthe full width thereof receiving stock from the first conduit, aplurality of laterally spaced ducts extending generally vertically fromsaid header to flow stock therefrom, and a flow distributing conduithaving a generally flat, generally horizontal baflle beyond andgenerally normal to said ducts turning stock flowing from the ducts at aright angle, means defining an increasingly restricted mouth the fullwidth of the inlet box receiving stock turned by the horizontal baffle,and a generally flat generally vertical baffle generally normal to stockflowing from said means turning stock again at a right angle and intothe bottom of said inlet box, and a rectifier roll mounted in a bottomopening in said inlet box receiving stock flowing off said verticalbaffle.

4. In a paper machine, a first conduit of small crosssectional area andwidth directing a high velocity stream of stock, a stock inlet box ofrelatively larger cross-sectional area and width accommodating arelatively slower flow of stock, a header below the box and extendingthe full width thereof receiving stock from the first conduit, aplurality of laterally spaced ducts extending generally vertically fromsaid header to flow stock therefrom, and a flow distributing conduithaving a generally flat, generally horizontal bafile beyond andgenerally normal to said ducts turning stock flowing from the ducts at aright angle, means defining an increasingly restricted mouth the fullwidth of the inlet box receiving stock turned by the horizontal baffle,and a generally flat generally vertical baffle generally normal to stockflowing from said means turning stock again at a right angle and intothe bottom of said inlet box, and mounting means adjustably carryingsaid generally horizontal baflie for movement thereof relative to saidducts to control flow of stock therethrough.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the bafile means are integral withthe inlet box rear wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,171,739 Berry Sept. 5, 1939 2,736,246 Crittenden Feb. 28, 19562,737,087 Bennett Mar. 6, 1956 2,747,471 Corbin May 29, 1956 FOREIGNPATENTS 851,301 Germany Oct. 2, 1952

